In the last post, I explained why work-life balance is an an unattainable myth. So, unless you are a fan of Sisyphus, it’s best to look for an alternative.
The good news is that Jesus modeled an alternative that is attainable: work-life obedience. Or, if you want a more descriptive title, God-centered, engaged, stewardship is the goal.
It is not, however, a 12-step program, a 3-point sermon, or a 5-step plan. The best I can do is try to describe it for you and try to paint a picture of what it looks like from the life of Jesus.
Work-life obedience is God-centered.
The ideal of work-life balance is premised on our ability to control our work and life, whereas the alternative, work-life obedience, is God-centered.
Jesus described its foundation when He said, “I only do what I see the Father doing” John 5:19. The Apostle Paul, encouraged it as well when he said the sons of God are those who are following the Spirit of God. Romans 8:14. Work-life obedience calls for our obedience to God in both work and life.
As such, work-life obedience destroys the artificial compartmentalization that work-life balancers attempt to impose on reality. In work-life obedience, there is no sacred and secular. All we do is subject to the Lordship of King Jesus, and therefore all we do is integrated in Him. Under the model of work-life obedience we are always on-call for God.
Jesus’ example of God-centered, work-life obedience
Jesus, unsurprisingly, is the best example of work-life obedience. In John 4, Jesus has walked from Capernaum to Sychar, a city in Samaria. He probably walked for 8-10 hours the day before and at least 6 hours this day before arriving at a well around noon. John records that Jesus was “weary,” and He was resting at the well while His disciples had gone into town to buy food.
While Jesus is resting, a woman from Sychar comes to the well for water. Now at this point, had work-life balance been His goal, Jesus could have concluded He was rightfully off the clock, and what was best for his mental health was to just rest. Instead, He engaged the woman and ministered to her, which led to her going back to the city to tell others about Jesus.
God-centeredness solves the space-time problem
This example of Jesus at the well also demonstrates how work-life obedience addresses the space-time problem discussed in the previous post. Because we all share common ground in space and time, this may have been the only time Jesus crossed paths with this woman. When we are operating in work-life obedience we are not trying to discern whether the present falls into work or rest, but, “What do I see the Father doing.” See John 5:19. When we are pursuing work-life obedience, interruptions become opportunities.
“When we are living out work-life obedience, physical food takes a back seat to the food of doing God’s will and the work He has given us to do.”
When the disciples return with the food, they try to get Jesus to eat, but Jesus tells them “I have food you do not know about.” John 4:32. The disciples begin to question who gave Jesus food, when Jesus interrupts them and says, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent me and to complete the work He has given me to do.” John 4:34. When we are living out work-life obedience, physical food takes a back seat to the food of doing God’s will and the work He has given us to do.
Work-life obedience fosters full engagement in the present
When we start from a foundation of obedience to God in work and life, engagement in the present becomes natural. We can be fully engaged whether we are at work and on the job or at home with our family because both are sacred and how we act in the moment is subject to obedience to God.
Jesus fully engaged in work
Jesus was teaching by the Sea of Galilee, probably on the shore with His back to the water, when Jairus, the synagogue official, made his way through the crowd to fall at Jesus’ feet. Jairus begs Jesus to come and heal his daughter who was near death. Jesus consents and follows Jairus toward His home.
As Jesus begins to walk, the crowd is not not only in front of Him but folds around beside Him and behind Him. People are pushing in on Jesus, probably bumping up against Him as well, when the woman who had been suffering from some lifelong hemorrhage issue touches only Jesus’ clothing. Yet, Jesus is so engaged in the present that He immediately knows someone has touched Him in faith. See Mark 5:21-34.
This is the epitome of engagement, but Jesus modeled it again and again. Wherever He was, He was fully there, freed up by knowing He was doing what He saw the Father doing, and therefore whatever He was doing in the moment merited His full attention.
An instruction about engagement from Paul
The Apostle Paul captured the concept of engagement when he told the Colossians, “Whatever you do, do your work wholeheartedly, as for the Lord and not for men . . .” Colossians 3:23-24. The word translated “wholeheartedly” or “heartily” is the Greek word “psyche,” and it refers to the totality of our mind, will, and emotions.
In other words, Paul is saying that whatever work we do we should do it fully engaged with our mind, will, and emotions. Work-life obedience commands full engagement in work and life because all of it is subject to the lordship of King Jesus.
What this means practically is that when I am at work, I should be fully engaged and focused on work, not thinking about how I might rather be with my family or on vacation. My work deserves my full attention. And when I am at home with my wife and family, I am not thinking about work but am fully focused on my family.
Next up: Part 2 of An Alternative to Work-Life Balance. GS
